Snapper Card

We see that Frogblog has joined Poneke in finding fault with the way NZ Bus has dealt with the Snapper card.

We therefore feel it important to report that the Snapper card is working perfectly for us. Every bus that we have taken since we purchased the card has been Snapper enabled and the card has worked perfectly. We find it very user friendly on the bus. We have also used it once or twice instead of cash when buying coffee. Again it worked perfectly. We like the card so much we have procured a Snapper feeder and last night set the system up. It was very easy to set up and we were able to load $50 more onto the card in a matter of seconds. Again very user friendly. We look forward to Snapper being extended into the school and student concession markets.

We commend the Snapper system to those considering the introduction of just such a system into Auckland.

Jerusalem Miramar

And will those feet in modern time,
Walk upon Wellington’s mountains green
And will the holy Lamb of God,
On Miramar’s pleasant pastures be seen
And will the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And will Jerusalem be builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

The Dominion Post suggests the answer is yes. Another great development for our film industry.

New NZX Website Launched

Some months ago we suggested that the NZX needed a new website.

A few weeks later we were invited to the NZX AGM.

Today we received an e-mail saying that a new website had just been launched and that the NZX would welcome feedback.

Initial feedback - thanks for being so responsive NZX. Very impressive.

The new website can be accessed here...

Make Sure You Read This Dr Bollard

Concerning business confidence numbers in the capital.

A Good Blog Can Boost Sales

The Press looks at the use of blogs by business to boost sales.

We stress the following factors:

• well written
• regularly updated
• interesting
• a bit different from the competition
• easily understood by the non-geek

Another Big Call By Cunliffe

Public enemy #1 in Hawkes Bay and now within Telecom! He is really in charge here! David Cunliffe today rejected Telecom's separation plan.

Air NZ Profit Up

It is great to see Air New Zealand doing so well. Remember back a year or so ago - without a codeshare with Qantas it was supposedly going to have to trim things back to the bone.....

It is also great to see the new services to China and Canada doing well. And in the China context, the direct link to Beijing couldn't be better timed - FTA and all.

Blue Chip To Be Probed

It is good to see that the Commerce Commission is set to launch a probe into Blue Chip.

Rod Drury On Selling Your Business

The NZ Herald today carries the final part of Rod Drury's helpful tips to business owners. This part deals with selling your business.

Angel Investors And Exporting

More good advice from Rod Drury. Yesterday he took a look at the potential use of Angel Investors. And in today's NZ Herald he looks at export.

We agree fully with the start of his article:

All New Zealand business people should be looking at how they contribute to exporting. It is so important for us as a country that we earn foreign currency.

But Rod, do the Greens agree? Is international trade and tourism not evil? Is the subsistence economy the only sustainable way forward?

Of course the Greens are wrong on this, but these are the people who Labour sees as its natural ally, and it the Greens that are currently giving the Government support, when support is needed.

Rod Drury On Impressing Investors

Rod Drury has his third installment of advice for new businesses in today's NZ Herald. Today he advises on how to make an impression on potential investors.

More Good Advice From Rod Drury

Part II of Rod Drury's advice on starting a business is in today's NZ Herald.

People who have built and sold businesses will tell you that the biggest factor in the money they receive on exit is usually determined by shareholding decisions made in the beginning.

Rod explins how you might get this right.

What Won't Work When Starting A High Tech Business In New Zealand

Business advisory services have some of their busiest times of the year in mid-January. While sitting on the beach people tend to have new ideas, or resolve to start off in new business directions. They want to test these thoughts or ideas out on a third party. In the only opinion article worth reading in today's NZ Herald Wellingtonian Rod Drury has some helpful advice about what won't work in the high tech start-up arena.

Wellington The National Cradle For Technology and Innovation

With its concentration of Crown Research Institutions, Universities, Government Departments and the private sector (Wellington is still head office for almost as many large companies as Auckland) it has seemed to the team at The Hive that there is a huge opportunity for Wellington to be known as a centre for educational and research excellence, and the place where the innovative ideas and new technologies come from. There have been problems in getting all these institutions to work together and understand the need for collaboration with the private sector, but thanks to a few of the city's leaders business, and political, this is starting to happen.

Two examples of what this collaboration can achieve - super conductor cabling and super conducting magnets is featured in an article today in the Dominion Post. Good on the Dominion Post for running this and for Nick Churchouse for writing the story.

Competition Is A Many Splendid Thing

Thank you Pacific Blue!! Queen Bee is looking forward to flying Air New Zealand again! Air New Zealand is going to start offering free award wining wine on flights between the main centres between 4pm and 7.30pm. See the media release .